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A Louisiana Senate judiciary committee on Tuesday advanced two measures that would limit the governor’s authority over declared emergencies.
Senators approved both instruments without objection. Members heard testimony on other measures with similar goals before setting them aside. While the committee chairman promised votes for other instruments at a future meeting, Tuesday’s action may have offered a preview of which of the various House of Representatives-approved limitations will be palatable to the less-conservative Senate.
House Concurrent Resolution 9 by House Speaker Clay Schexnayder would suspend Gov. John Bel Edwards’ ability to extend or renew his COVID-19 emergency declaration for 30 days. He said the goal is to allow state residents to get back to normal life, at least “for a little while.”
Concurrent resolutions need approval from the majority of both chambers to go into effect but do not need the governor’s signature.
Schexnayder also endorsed House Bill 4, which would maintain the governor’s ability to issue emergency executive orders but give legislators the ability to vote on subsequent extensions after 30 days. Two of the legislature’s top four elected officials would have to agree to call for a vote, and a majority of both houses would be needed to overturn or amend the order.
Currently, a majority of either chamber can cancel an emergency order, but it’s an all-or-nothing vote. Rep. Mark Wright, the Covington Republican who authored HB 4, said his proposal would give legislators more flexibility and allow for negotiation with the governor.
“The governor’s acting in his authority,” Wright said. “He’s doing what he thinks is best.”
But there’s room for disagreement, he said, naming concerns about property rights and religious freedom.
“It is encouraging to see our legislature working to foster a system that favors collaboration with other elected officials over unilateral power,” Daniel Erspamer, CEO of the Pelican Institute for Public Policy, said in a statement. “By adding these much-needed checks and balances to Louisiana’s emergency powers, we can be more responsive to the needs of the individuals, entrepreneurs, and families across our state.”
Committee Chairman Sen. Gary Smith, a Norco Democrat, raised concerns about whether allowing legislators to tweak an executive order violates the constitutional separation of powers. Senate President Page Cortez has called for creating a legislative committee that governors would be required to consult with but expressed concerns about giving legislators veto power over an executive order for the same constitutional reasons.
The committee voted down House Bill 15 by Rep. Larry Frieman, an Abita Springs Republican, that would have left the current petition system that allows a single chamber to end an emergency order in place but allowed them also to alter those orders. Sen. Joseph Bouie, a New Orleans Democrat, said he preferred measures that would ensure both chambers vote.
“We have so many instruments trying to do the same thing,” Bouie noted.
Edwards has not publicly expressed opposition to any of the measures pending in the current special session that would limit his emergency authority. But he has stated that managing an emergency by committee is not ideal, and points to the state’s stubbornly high COVID-19 infection rate to justify keeping mitigation mandates in place.
Though most businesses are able to open, capacity restrictions remain in place along with a requirement for employees and patrons to wear face coverings. Barrooms are closed for on-premise service, and alcohol service is cut off at 11 p.m.
The current COVID-19 executive order expires Friday. Edwards has announced that his renewal of that order will allow for alcohol sales at sporting events.
“Right now, Louisiana’s COVID hospitalization rate is the lowest it has been in nearly four months, and that’s because Louisianans are taking mitigation measures like wearing masks seriously,” Edwards says. “If we want to continue to come together as fans to celebrate, we must wear our face masks, wash our hands frequently and avoid going in public whenever we have symptoms.”

Submitted Photo
Berwick Mayor Duval Arthur has proclaimed Oct. 13-16 to be Homecoming Week for Berwick High School. Arthur is shown with the homecoming court. Shown seated from left: Hannah Bailey, Abby Williams, Jordan Gallegos, Riley Dubois, Arthur, Lindsie Giroir, Madison Dinger, Randi Marie Joubert and Giuliana Spitale. Standing: Anna Leleux, Makaylin Carver, Katie Conrad, Madelyn Hall, Kyleigh Arceneaux, Bronwyn Colbert, A' Ryla Davis and
Yasmine Washington.

This week, Louisiana mourns the loss of one of our state’s greatest leaders. Gov.Mike Foster was a true original who brought his own unique style and brand of governing to Louisiana’s highest office. While he left politics more than 16 years ago, it’s not very hard to find present reminders of his legacy in every part of our state. It’s safe to say that because of his work, Louisiana today is a much better place to get an education, find a job, start a business and raise a family.
If you read through the pages of our history, you’ll find that the Louisiana governorship has often been a job dominated more by the concerns of personality and politics rather than policy and progress. But Mike Foster was different. He broke from the traditional mold and often ignored politics and was indifferent to personality, instead charging to confront the state’s most pressing problems. When he moved out of the Governor’s Mansion in 2004, he left behind a list of landmark achievements that still resonates nearly two decades later.
After decades of fast dealing and slick talk coming out of the State Capitol, Louisiana voters found the refreshing opposite with Mike Foster. He didn’t speak in soundb ites or use polls to determine his positions. If you really wanted to know what he was thinking or where he stood on an issue, all you had to do was ask. What you saw was what you got.
While his style was unconventional for politics, citizens appreciated his straightforward, businesslike manner. He thought, spoke and acted like most Louisianans. He grew his beard out for duck season, loved to hunt and was most comfortable in camouflage, even in the office. He did away with a lot of the ceremonies and pomp that traditionally came with the job, choosing instead to focus his attention and efforts elsewhere. And while he did find the time while in office to go to law school at Southern University, get a helicopter pilot’s license and do a lot of riding on his motorcycle, he was still able to produce incredible results for the state.
In his inaugural address, his first speech to Louisianans as their governor, Mike Foster pledged that his administration would “reinvent this government.” That simple charge would define the next eight years and leave Louisiana a much different place than it was when he took office.
Gov. Foster made unprecedented investments in K-12 education, working tirelessly to raise teacher pay and ensure that more funds made their way to students. He championed education reform, school accountability, and helped create Louisiana’s first charter schools. The TOPS program that he passed ensured that thousands of our state’s most talented students stayed home to attend our colleges and universities. Unsatisfied with the structure of higher education he found, Governor Foster created the Louisiana Community and Technical College System to develop our workforce.
He also tackled the challenge of a dysfunctional workers’ compensation system and put it on solid financial footing by spearheading the creation of the Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Corp. He stood up to the politically powerful trial lawyers of the time and passed significant legal reforms that brought Louisiana’s civil justice system more in line with the rest of the country and lowered auto insurance rates for our drivers.
After his time in office was up, he didn’t hang around the Capitol or play political kingmaker. He simply stepped aside and moseyed on back to his quiet life down in Franklin.
Louisiana is incredibly lucky to have received the service of Mike Foster. At the time we needed not only his results, but also his humble and straight forward honesty about the challenges Louisiana faced and the tremendous opportunities we had before us. His sensible and courageous leadership transformed the state and made us a better place. We need more public servants like him today.
If you want to remember Governor Foster, try to emulate the man known simply as “Mike” more in what you do. Stand for what you believe. Surround yourself with smart, good people and let them shine. Be honest and straightforward with people. Serve your state when it needs you and gracefully step aside when it is time to move on. Take risks for the right reasons and avoid making deals for the wrong reasons.
In short, just be like Mike.
Stephen Waguespack is president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.

DEAR ABBY: My husband’s nephew passed away last week. He was only 26, and it was a complete shock. No one realized he was using drugs. My husband is attending the funeral (a nine-hour drive) and will be gone for four days. We have two children, ages 7 and 9, and because of the pandemic, we’ve decided I will stay home with them.
I’m writing to you because my husband doesn’t want to tell our kids that their cousin has died — ever. We don’t see his family often — maybe once every few years — but the kids remember their cousin, and I’m sure they will ask about him next time we visit.
I think we need to tell them, but he is adamant they never know. Should I fill them in while he’s gone or wait until he’s ready to break the news?
FORTHCOMING IN MAINE

DEAR FORTHCOMING: I do not recommend going behind your husband’s back with a parenting decision like this one. He may be trying to shield the children from the reality that not only old people but also young people are mortal.
When he returns, approach the kids together, and in an age-appropriate manner, explain to them separately what happened. Many young people experiment with drugs because they think that addiction and death won’t happen to them. Knowing what happened to their cousin could ensure it won’t happen to either of them.
DEAR ABBY: I have been in a relationship with a guy for a year and a half. We don’t live together. During the pandemic, his regular job shut down. He finally got another job and bought lawn equipment to keep in my shed.
His behavior has changed, Abby. I haven’t heard from him in weeks. He says men don’t call women anymore, and if I want to talk to him, I should call him. How do you know if you are in a relationship if there’s no communication? Plus, he gets irritated when I bring it up.
NOT RIGHT IN THE EAST

DEAR NOT RIGHT: When someone’s behavior suddenly changes, there is usually a reason. What that reason may be, I can’t guess and neither can you. The dynamic in your relationship with this person is definitely different.
Call him and ask him if his feelings for you have changed. It may be that he is depressed. It may also be he now has a job and is busy. That he becomes irritated when you have tried to raise the subject tells me he is defensive. And that’s a red flag.

DEAR ABBY: Is it OK for 70-year-olds to get engaged? Both of us are widowed after long marriages. My wife died two years ago. Her husband passed more than three years ago. I am 77, and she is 75. We are both active and feel lucky to have found love again. We have been a couple for seven months now. I could find nothing about it on the internet.
Also, how long should we be engaged? Could we announce an engagement without setting a wedding date? Should I give her an engagement ring? I am not experienced. My last engagement was in 1961. That marriage lasted 56 years.
IN THE DARK IN NEW MEXICO

DEAR IN THE DARK: I assume you and this lady are already discussing marriage. While you are doing that, ask her if she would like a ring and whether she would like to join you in selecting one or would prefer to be “surprised.” You can announce an engagement without mentioning a wedding date, but because you have been a couple for only seven months, consider formalizing your union on the anniversary of your first meeting.
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